| KIRF Notes are the Slankets of the phablet world (video) Mar 27th 2012, 20:44 Today we've got a special treat for you: not one, but two knockoff Galaxy Notes from across the Pacific. Both lack the raw power of Sammy's 5.3-inch device, and even knock the resolution down to a paltry 800 x 480. Our first contestant is rockin' only a 1GHz single-core processor and 512MB of RAM, but it's using those rather pedestrian components to push ICS through its little 9.7mm thick body. The second of today's players certainly wins the audacity contest -- brandishing its clearly unearned Samsung logos. It also wins the spec war here by jumping up to 768MB of RAM and a dual-core CPU, even if the later is an asymmetrical design with a 650MHz ARM7 and a 250MHz ARM9 inside. It also trades up in the camera department going with an eight-megapixel sensor, though, it does settle for Gingerbread. Now all we have to do is think up a new name for the segment, it seems wrong to bless these KIRFs with the phablet name. We were thinking slone or phlate... either way, check out the bonus hands-on vid after the break. Continue reading KIRF Notes are the Slankets of the phablet world (video) KIRF Notes are the Slankets of the phablet world (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 16:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink  M.I.C. Gadget |  MyDrivers (translated) | Email this | Comments | | James Cameron journeys to the Challenger Deep, lives to tell the tale in 3D (video) Mar 27th 2012, 20:27 It's easy for life to imitate art when you're armed with near billion dollar coffers. Taking a cue from his 1989 hit, The Abyss, James Cameron made a solo plunge down to the deepest part of the Earth -- a spot seven miles below sea level known as the Challenger Deep -- and recorded his journey in 3D for our slack-jawed, couchbound amusement. The terrain, described by Cameron as both "desolate" and "lunar," is part of the Mariana Trench and had remained unexplored by humanity since the Trieste first touched down in 1960. That two man crew, hampered by the technological advancements of the time, didn't have the luxury of capturing the undersea trek, so when Cameron's footage finally hits screens, it'll be the planet's first peek at a truly alien world. Conspiracy theorists and New Age-y types will be disheartened by the lack of any reported close encounters of the aquatic or Steve Zissou kind, as the blockbuster filmmaker only spied a variety of small, whitish and, predominantly, eyeless creatures. The trip was seven years in the making, and involved the construction of the Deepsea Challenger -- the high-tech mini-sub which carted Cameron safely to the Pacific Ocean's depths and back. Curious to see what only the world's richest can experience first-hand? Then click on past the break for a brief docu-tease. Continue reading James Cameron journeys to the Challenger Deep, lives to tell the tale in 3D (video) James Cameron journeys to the Challenger Deep, lives to tell the tale in 3D (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 16:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Gizmodo | National Geographic | Email this | Comments | | AT&T Plus now in trial stages, lets loyal users in on special deals and more Mar 27th 2012, 20:11 Looks like racking up those loyal points may just pay off in the near future, as Ma Bell's rolling out a new loyalty program dubbed AT&T Plus. The free service -- which is only available in Houston, Colorado and Minneapolis at the moment -- will let customers get tidbits such as a "personalized customer experience," with access to a special 1-855-ATTPLUS customer service line. Additionally, AT&T Plus users get a 25 percent discount on accessories (sorry, no iPhone or iPad add-ons) as well as waived activation and upgrade fees. AT&T's yet to say what you'll need to get a Plus party invite, but we'd imagine that staying away from any warning is the first step... AT&T Plus now in trial stages, lets loyal users in on special deals and more originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 16:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Electronista | AT&T Plus | Email this | Comments | | PSA: HTC One X priced up to £330 in the UK, also available for free (update: $800 in Canada) Mar 27th 2012, 19:57 Chances are you're still melting over the impressive HTC One X benchmarks, and that's just the dual-core Snapdragon S4 taking care of business. As you may know, those of you in the Old Continent will see a quad-core flavor hit the shelves, and it's looking like that version is getting priced a wee bit earlier. So, just how much will you have to shell out to snag one of HTC's latest? Phones4U and Carphone Warehouse both have the One X listed as high as £329.99 (about $527), though you can also grab a free one if you take on a longer, more expensive plan on Orange, O2 and Vodafone. Carphone's site shows you can expect the device to land at your doorstep in the week of April 2nd. In the meantime, take a look at our hands-on to remind you how badly you need it. Update: It looks like Canadians can now also pre-order the HSPA+ version of the phone courtesy of NCIX, although they'll have to part with a hefty $800 (off-contract, of course). PSA: HTC One X priced up to £330 in the UK, also available for free (update: $800 in Canada) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Mobile Syrup | Phones4U, The Carphone Warehouse | Email this | Comments | | Coby's budget-minded Ice Cream Sandwich tablets go on sale Mar 27th 2012, 19:44 Eager to get a taste of Ice Cream Sandwich while you wait for an update on your phone? Then you now have another option to do so relatively cheaply if you don't mind venturing into Coby's bargain bin of tablets. It's begun rolling out no less than six new slates to retail stores today (most of which we saw at CES in January), which pack screens ranging in size from seven to ten inches and each run Android 4.0. Specs are otherwise fairly identical across the board, with each boasting the same single-core 1GHz Cortex A8 processor, microSD card slot, front-facing cameras, HDMI out and either 4GB or 8GB of storage. Unfortunately, they all also come with one key drawback common to budget Android tablets: there's no official access to Google Play. If that's not too much of a deterrent, you can pick these up for between $179 and $279. Coby's budget-minded Ice Cream Sandwich tablets go on sale originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Android Community | Coby | Email this | Comments | | Engadget HD Podcast 292 - 03.27.2012 Mar 27th 2012, 19:23  No guests this week, just us but we've got a quick and dirty podcast with news of TiVo's latest DVR plus some freshly updated iPad apps from Netflix and DirecTV. The Xbox 360 has its own new apps to deliver as well, while Sky is still creeping towards a different kind of pay-TV service with its upcoming Now TV. Home automation heads will be interested in the Motorola Connected Home Gateway that appears to be right around the corner, and we've also got a quick look at the latest legal developments for Aereo. Finally, we'll check in with the latest TV and Blu-ray releases this week -- press play and see if we can get Ben caught up on Game of Thrones in time for the season premiere.
Get the podcast
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3).
[RSS - AAC] Enhanced feed, subscribe to this with iTunes.
[RSS - MP3] Add the Engadget HD Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
[Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace
[MP3] Download the show (MP3).
Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh (@bjdraw), Richard Lawler (@rjcc)
Producer: Trent Wolbe
06:37 - TiVo Premiere 500GB coming Sunday along with lower prices for service, XL and Elite DVRs
09:30 - TiVo sues Time Warner Cable, Motorola Mobility in fresh patent assault
12:00 - Microsoft and TiVo agree to drop ongoing patent suits, we ask the world to follow
14:55 - Netflix iPad app upgraded with Retina quality icons and images now, HD video soon
19:27 - DirecTV iPad app adds (some) TV and movie streaming 'Everywhere'
21:40 - BBC iPlayer app finally launches for all UK Xbox 360s
24:08 - Sky dubs upcoming internet TV service 'Now TV', chases those currently without pay-TV
25:45 - Xbox 360's Comcast Xfinity TV app in beta testing, won't count against data caps when it launches
29:00 - Motorola Connected Home Gateway home automation all-in-one hits the FCC with Verizon tags
31:02 - Aereo countersues broadcasters over its internet TV streaming service
33:36 - Must See HDTV (March 26th - April 1st)
Hear the podcast
LISTEN (MP3)
LISTEN (AAC) Engadget HD Podcast 292 - 03.27.2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | |
